The Football Association of Montenegro (FSCG) bids farewell to Andrija Delibasic, who has passed away at the age of 44 following a prolonged struggle with a serious illness.

Andrija Delibasic proudly represented the Montenegrin national team in 21 matches, netting six goals. His inaugural goal arrived during a World Cup qualifier against Georgia on October 10, 2009, contributing to Montenegro’s first competitive victory with a score of 2-1.

He will forever hold a special place in the hearts of fans for his memorable goal against England on October 7, 2011. With a well-placed header, he ensured a 2-2 draw, which propelled our team into the play-offs for the European Championship.

“The talented forward, who advocated for the Montenegrin national team for four years, passed away today at the age of 44 following a lengthy battle with a serious illness.

He was a cherished member of a remarkable generation of our national team, affectionately known as Deli. During his time with the “Brave Falcons,” he made 21 appearances and scored six goals. Fans will particularly remember his vital goals against both the Georgian and English national teams—his strike against Georgia marked the Falcons’ first competitive victory, while his last-minute equalizer against England secured our entry into the 2012 European Championship play-offs.

Born on April 23, 1981, in Nikšić, Andrija began his illustrious football journey with Sutjeska in his hometown. At the age of fourteen, he joined Partizan Belgrade and played in their senior team for five years, making history as the scorer of Partizan’s first-ever goal in the Champions League. After his time in Belgrade, he transferred to Mallorca, where he subsequently went on loan to Benfica, Braga, AEK Athens, Beira Mar, and Real Sociedad over four years.

His Spanish adventure continued with a two-year stint at Hercules, followed by three years at Rayo Vallecano. In the twilight of his career, Andrija played for Ratchaburi in Thailand before concluding his successful journey back at his parent club, Sutjeska from Nikšić.

Beyond his representation of the Montenegrin national team, Andrija also played for the youth national team of Serbia and Montenegro, where he earned a silver medal at the European Championship in 2004 held in Germany.

Following his playing days, Andrija transitioned into coaching, serving as an assistant on the coaching staff at Partizan and Buducnost, before becoming the head coach of Mornar from Bar.

The details regarding the date and time of Andrija Delibašić’s funeral and memorial service will be provided at a later date.

The Football Association of Montenegro extends its heartfelt condolences to the Delibašić family,” stated the FSCG.

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